Louvre museum will be headed by woman for first time in its 228-year history

The French presidency has appointed Laurence des Cars, the current director of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, to head the world’s largest museum as of September 1, the Élysée Palace announced on Wednesday.

Des Cars, 54, was tapped to replace the Louvre’s outgoing director Jean-Luc Martinez, who had been in charge since 2013.

Her appointment caps a remarkable rise to the helm of France’s flagship museum, just four years after she became the first woman to head the nearby Musée d’Orsay.

The directors of France’s top public museums, which also include the Chateau de Versailles and the Pompidou Modern Art Museum, are directly appointed by French presidents.